A Summer at MOCA

While literacy is the number one focus of KOREH L.A. volunteers, there are many other modes of expression that students may not have the opportunity to embrace, including art. Not only are there different modes, but these modes are often times connected. According to a study done by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, learning about art actually enhances literacy skills. The study demonstrated that “the use of both talking about art and using inquiry to help students tease apart the meaning of painting helps them learn how to tease apart the meanings of texts, too. They apply those skills to reading” (New York Times, 2006).

KOREH L.A. was able to make this connection possible by continuing its partnership with The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). KOREH L.A. again invited all of its year-round schools to take their fourth and fifth grade students on a field trip to visit this summer's exhibit, Rauschenberg's Combines - wall hung and freestanding works that combine everyday objects through sculpture and painting.

In preparation for the field trip, KOREH L.A. volunteers were invited to go into the classrooms and give a brief presentation/lesson on the artist and his artwork prior to the students’ field trip. The interested volunteers attended a three-hour orientation at MOCA where they were able to acquire knowledge about the artist, his artwork, and the tour the students would be taking. It was not only a great opportunity to learn about art, but also a great way for the volunteers to become more involved with KOREH L.A., MOCA and the children's classrooms.

Our KOREH volunteers prepared the students so well during their presentations in the classroom, that when they arrived at MOCA, the educators were able to delve deeper into the art, building on the solid knowledge the students had already acquired. This made the experience much more fulfilling for the students as they were truly able to understand the meaning of the art they were observing.

Thank you to our dedicated KOREH L.A. volunteers, to the MOCA educators and to the offices of Councilman Cardenas, Councilwoman Greuel, and Councilman Zine who provided the bus transportation for each of the schools participating.